Container



Jufiy 2, 1945,

H. E. BRALQFF CONTAINER Fil ed Jan. 12, 1944 2 Sheets Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

TTORNEY juEy 2, 3945. H. E. BRALOFF CONTAINER Filed Jan. 12, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented July 2, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER Henry E. creme, Rockville Centre, N. Y. Application January 12, 1944, Serial No. 518,201

9 Claims.

This invention generally relates to containers and, more specifically, to fibrous containers of the collapsible type adapted tobe stored and shipped in substantially flat condition for erection and assembly by the user, as needed.

The invention is directed to the provision of a novel container of theaforementioned character adapted for the packaging of a wide variety of products such as plastic and semi-plastic materials, solid materials in. granular or powder form, and the like, particularly plastic materials such as ice-cream, that are usually packaged by the manufacturer in partially frozen condition and may be thereafter subjected to further freezing or solidification.

The collapsible containers that have been heretofore provided for these purposes have not proved entirely satisfactory for various reasons, such as their comparatively complicated construction and consequent relatively high cost of, manufacture, or their inability to stand up under the strains .to which. they are subjected in use, that oifset the advantages, deriving from the saving of space which the collapsible construction permits to attain. As a result, the use of such collapsible containers has been heretofore rather limited,

It is therefore the general object of the present invention to provide a fibrous container for plastic and solid materials, as aforementioned, which, while being collapsible and adapted for storage and shipment in substantially flat condition, thereby greatly reducing the requirements for shipping and storing space, is also of simple and rugged construction so as to be inexpensive to manufacture, and capable of affording the desired protection to the packaged material under any conditions that may be encountered in use It is also an object of the invention to provide a container of such simple and rugged construction adapted to be erected into its ultimate tubular shape by the user in a simple and expeditious manner, by hand operation without the use of any tools.

More specifically, it is a further object of the invention to provide a container made of cardboard or like material, which consists of two sections, both of which are collapsible and embody rigid members that will function as end closures for the container when this latter is caused to assume its ultimate tubular shape, said two sections being also capable of assembly in their collapsed condition for shipment and storage as a collapsed unit.

The invention furthermore contemplates the provision of a fibrous container of corrugated cardboard comprising collapsible sections, as aforementioned, said sections incorporating closure members mounted therein for hinged movement and abutments which define the ultimate position to be assumed by said closures within the respective sections, the erection of the container being accomplished merely by forcing the 010-.

the aforemensures into close association with tioned abutments.

It is another object of the invention to provide a container comprising a head or cover of novel and improved construction, which, besides being collapsible, also provides means for receiving and supporting the bottom of asimilar container, whereby a plurality of containers of similar construction may be arranged in nested superimposed relation to each other;

The invention also contemplates means for reinforcing the wall of a container of the aforementioned character, whenever desired, without modifying in any manner the structure of the device. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the body of the container, shown in its collapsed condition, part of the structure being broken oif to illustrate the closure for the bottom of the container associated with said body.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the head or cover of the container, also in its collapsed condition, part of the structure being likewise broken off to show the top closure associated therewith.

Figure-3 is a plan view illustrating the collapsed'body and. cover of Figures 1 and 2, as assembled to form a collapsed flat unit, part of the structure being broken olT to show the position of the aforementioned bottom andtop closures within the collapsed assembly.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view, on line 4-4 of Figure in the direction of the arrows, further illustrating the arrangement of the closure members within the collapsed unit.

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, on line 55 of Figure 1, illustrating the means for connecting the bottom closure to the container 1 body.

Figure 6 is a similar enlarged cross-sectional view, on line 65 of Figure 2,- through the container head.

Figure 7 is a perspective, view of the head of the container, as expanded into cylindrical shape and ready for application upon the container body.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the container body erected into a tubular formation for the reception of the filling material, with part of the wall of the structure broken off to illustrate the manner in which the ends of the forming blank are joined.

Figure 9 is a section in elevation of the assembled container in set-up condition; and

Figure is a similar section in elevation showing the container of Figure 9 provided with a reinforcing liner.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, wheree in like characters of reference are employed to designate the similar parts in the various views,'

it will be observed that the container comprises two sections, a body A and a head or cover B, both of which are collapsible and adapted to be assembled in their collapsed condition, to form the fiat unit of Figure 3, and to be expanded into cylindrical shape for assembly into the erected unit of Figure 9. l

The body section A, which will now be described, is preferably formed from a sheet or blank I0 of flexible corrugated cardboard, of the type having a corrugated layer and a flat layer, or liner, adhesively united, the sheet being, of course, of appropriate length and width to provide a tubular body structure of the desired dimensions. To form said body A, the ends of the sheet I0 are caused to mate in a butt joint, as indicated at H, with the corrugations of the material disposed outwardly, and secured together in mating relation by means of a tape or strip of paper l2 adhesively applied to the inner flat surface of the cardboard (see Figure 8), suitably located score lines being provided in the sheet I!) to form bending zones so as to provide a readily collapsible formation.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the marginal portion l3 of the sheet H1 is folded along a score line parallel to the edge thereof, andturned inwardly to provide a continuous should-er I 4. This shoulder will function as a seat for a bottom closure that is pressed against the shoulder when the container body is set up for use, and defines the ultimate position of the closure within the erected structure. The marginal portion I3 is maintained in its inturned position by means of a series of spaced staples I5.

The aforementioned bottom closure consists of a rigid circular disc I6, made of cardboard or other suitable material having sufficient strength to withstand the internal pressure exerted by the material with which the container is filled, the diameter of said disc I6 being approximately corresponding to the internal diameter of the body A to permit frictional peripheral engagement of the disc with the inner surface of the body. The disc is permanently connected to the body by means of a tab l8, which is preferably formed integral with the disc and projects therefrom for insertion between the corrugated material IB and its inturned marginal portion l3, to which it is suitably fastened, as by means of staples 22. Tab I8 is preferably located in the zone of the butt joint II, in superimposed relation to the tape I2, and fastened to the mating end portions of the sheet In so as to act also as a means for reinforcing said joint. Score line 20 provides a bending zone adjacent the periphery of disc I6 along shoulder M, to permit hinged connection of the disc [6 with the tab [8 and hinged movement of the disc within the body A to the position shown in Figures 8 and 9.

As it will be apparent from the foregoing, there is formed in this manner a structure, which constitutes an open-ended collapsible body adapted to be expanded into a tubular formation and incorporating a means movable therein to endclosing position, to provide a bottom closure for the container.

The head or cover section B, which cooperates with the body section A to form the complete container, may be made from a strip 24 of corrugated cardboard similar to that employed for the construction of the body, the ends of the strip being likewise caused to mate in a butt joint, as indicated at 25, and maintained in mating relation by means of a tape or strip of paper 26 adhesively applied to the outer fiat surface of the material, to form an annular mem her having an inner. diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the body, the corrugations being disposed inwardly, Bending zones may be advantageously formed by suitably scoring the strip 24, to facilitate collapsing thereof.

The rigid circular disc 30, which is incorporated in the cover section B to function as a closure for the top of the container, is similar to disc [6 in material and construction, being made of cardboard and being provided with a tab 3|, which extends from the periphery of the disc and is scored along line 32, to permit hinged movement of the disc 30 from its position within the collapsed unit of Figure 2 to its ultimate position within the erected cover section illustrated in Figures 6 and 9. Tab 3| is preferably located in the zone of the butt joint 25, in juxtaposed relation to the corrugated inner surface of the mating end portions of strip 2 4, to which it is suitably fastened, as by means of staples 33, thereby also functioning to enhance the security of the joint.

A series of alined staples 34, applied along the periphery of the cover section in spaced relation to the upper edge thereof, project inwardly of the cover to form a plurality of shoulders which define the limit of the movement and the ultimate position of the disc 30 within the cover, when this latter is expanded into a cylindrical shape.

As it will be observed from Figures 3 and 4, the collapsed body and cover sections A and B, formed as described, may be readily assembled into a substantially flat collapsed unit by inserting the disc 30 of section B into the collapsed section A to locate said disc therein in parallel superimposed relation to the disc Hi.

It will be evident thatthe structure of the sections is such as to allow of the erection of the container for use in the simplest and most expeditious manner by hand manipulation of the rigid circular discs 16 and 30. For this purpose, disc I6 is forced into the collapsed body A, in a swinging movement relative to its tabl8, thereby causing the body to expand and assume a cylindrical shape, to conform with the shape of the disc, this latter being then further forced downwardly, in a so-called force-fit operation, to its ultimate position in seating engagement with the shoulder 14 and in locking frictional peripheral engagement with the surrounding wall of the body, the internal diameter whereof corresponds to the diameter of the disc, as aforementioned. A cylindrical container body, having a closed bottom end, is thus formed for the reception of the goods to be packaged.

The disc 30 is then forced into the section B, in a similar swinging movement, toits ultimate position in seated engagement with the inwardly projecting staples 34, to remain locked therein, in a force-fitting operation, in frictional peripheral engagement with the surrounding wall of the section, a cylindrical cover being so formed for subsequent application to the filled container body.

Since the cylindrical cover, constructed as described, is provided with inwardly disposed corrugations and has an internal diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the body, which is provided with outwardly disposed corrugations (as aforementioned and illustrated in Figure 9), it is apparent that the cover B, telescopically mounted on the body A in closure forming position, with its disc 30 resting upon the upper edge 35 of the body, will be firmly held in such position by the frictional engagement of the mating corrugations thereby affording an efficient top closure for the container.

It will also be observed from the showing of Figures '7 and 9, that the disc 30 is maintained within the erected cover in spaced relation to the upper edge 3? thereof by the inw'ardlyprojecting staples 34, there being defined in this manner a circular wall portion 38 adapted to accommodate and support, in cooperation with the projecting staples, the lower end of another similarly formed container; it is therefore mani fest that a plurality of containers according to the invention can be conveniently arranged in nested superimposed relation to each other'for storage purposes.

Figure illustrates the application of a reinforcing liner to the container hereinbefore described. For this purpose, a collapsible tubular formation of corrugated cardboard, or like suitable material, may be inserted'into the container body A in a collapsed condition, and then expanded by internally applied pressure, as by hand, into conforming frictional engagement with the inner surface of the container wall, as shown at 49. Besides functioning to reinforce the Wall structure, the addition of such a liner enhances the security of the seal afforded by the force-fit engagement of the closure disc with the surrounding wall.

The container may also be provided with an internal liner of sanitary material, such asparchment paper, or the like, or may be variously treated according to the nature of the material to be packaged therein.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a novel container which is sturdy and economically produced, which is collapsible and requires a minimum of space for shipping and storage, which can be set up into merchandise-receiving" position by simple hand manipulation, without the use of any tools, in a minimum of time, and which, in short, possesses all the attributes that are essential in a practical fibrous container for packaging plastic and solid products of the character hereinbefore set forth.

While I have described my invention substantially with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that many changes may be made in the structure described and illustrated in the drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A fibrous container comprising a collapsible tubular body having an inwardly folded portion at one end thereof to provide a shoulder within said body, a rigid disc hingedly connected to said body and movable therein into abutting engagement, with said shoulder, in frictional peripheral engagement with the inner surface of the body, to form a bottom closure for the container, a collapsible annular member adapted to'be mountedon said body, in frictional engagement with the outer surface thereof, a series of circumfer.- .entially spaced staples projecting inwardly of said annular member to form a plura1ity=of shoulders therein, and a rigid disc. hingedly connected to the annular member and movable therein into abutting engagement with said shoulders, to provide a wall in said annular member adapted to function as a closure for the top of the container when said annular member is mounted on said tubular body.

2, A fibrous container comprising a collapsible tubular body having a corrugated outer surface, a continuous shoulder within said body adjacent one end thereof, a rigid disc hingedly connected to said body and movable therein into abutting engagement with said shoulder, in frictional peripheral engagement with the inner surface of the body, to form a bottom closure for the container, a collapsible annular member having an inner corrugated surface and adapted to be mounted upon said body with its inner corrugated surface in frictional engagement with the outer corrugated surface of said body, a plurality of circumferentially spaced staples projecting inwardly of said annular member to'form shoulders therein, and a rigid disc hingedly connected to the annular member and movable therein into abutting engagement with said shoulders, to provide a wall in the annular member adapted to function as a top closure for the container when saidannular member is mounted on said tubular body.

3. In a fibrous container, in combination with a tubular body having a corrugated outer surface, a collapsible annular member havinga corrugated inner surface and an internal peripheral shoulder, said member being adapted to be telescopically mounted upon said body in frictional peripheral engagement with the outer surface of this latter to form a cover therefor, a rigid 'disc hingedly connected to said annular member and movable therein into abutting engagement with said shoulder, in peripheral engagement with the inner surface of said annularmember, to form an end wall therein adapted to function as a top closure for the container when said annular member is telescopically mounted thereon.

4. In a fibrous container of the character described, in combination with a collapsible tubular body member'having a corrugated outer surface, a collapsible annular member having a corrugated inner surface'and adapted to be mounted upon the body member with the respective corrugated surfaces in frictional engagement with one another, a series of peripherally arranged staples projecting inwardly of said annular member to define shoulders therein, a tab fastened to the inner surface of said annular member, a rigid disc hingedly connected to said tab and movable within said annular member to a position in abutting engagement with said shoulders, in peripheral frictional engagement with the inner surface of the annular member, to form an end wall therein, said Wall functioning as a top closure for the container when said annular member is frictionally mounted thereon.

5. A fibrous container comprising, in combination with a collapsible tubular body, a collapsible open-ended annular member having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of said tubular body, a series of staples arranged along the periphery of said annular member intermediate the ends thereof and projecting from the inner surface of the annular member to form a plurality of shoulders, a rigid disc hingedly connected to said annular member and movable therein into abutting engagement with said shoulders to=form a Wall defining two distinct sections in said annular member, one of said sections being adapted to be telescopically associated with said tubular body to provide a top closure for the container, and the other being adapted to accommodate and support the lower end of the tubular body of a similarly formed container.

6. A fibrous container comprising a collapsible tubular body having an inwardly folded portion at one end thereof to provide a continuous shoulder therein, a tab inserted between the wall of said body and the inwardly folded portion thereof and fastened thereto, a rigid circular disc hingedly connected to said tab for movement within said body to a position in abutting engagement with said shoulder, in frictional engagement with the inner surface of said body, to form a closure for the bottom of the container, a collapsible annular member having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of said body and adapted for telescopic assembly with said body, a series of circumferentially arranged staples projecting inwardly of the inner surface of said annular member to provide shoulders therein, and a rigid circular disc hingedly connected to said annular member for movement therein to a position in abutting engagement with said shoulders, to provide an end wall in said annular member adapted to function as a closure for the top of the container when said annular member is telescopically assembled with said tubular body.

7. A container comprising a collapsible tubular body formed of a sheet of flexible fibrous material having its ends mating in a butt joint, said tubular body having an inwardly folded portion at one end thereof to provide a continuous shoulder therein, a circular rigid disc positioned within the tubular body and embodying an integrally formed tab projecting laterally of the disc, said tab being disposed between the wall of said tubular body and the inwardly folded portion thereof and being rigidly secured thereto, a score line in said tab adjacent said shoulder to provide a bending zone in said tab and permit hinged movement of the discrelative to the tab, whereby said disc may be moved into abutting engagement with said shoulder to form a closure for the bottom of the container, a collapsible annular member adapted for telescopic assembly with said tubular body, in frictional engagement with the outer surface thereof, a series of circ-umferentially spaced staples projecting from the inner surface of said annular member to provide shoulders therein, and a rigid disc hingedly connected'to the annular member for movement therein to a position in abutting engagement with said shoulders, to provide a Wall adapted to func tion as a closure for the top of the container when said annular member is telescopically assembled with said body.

8. A fibrous container comprising a collapsible tubular body having a corrugated outer surface and an inwardly folded portion at one end thereof providing a shoulder within the body, a rigid circular disc hingedly connected to said body and movable therein into abutting engagement with said shoulder, in frictional peripheral engagement with the inner surface of the body, to form a closure for the bottom of the container, a collapsible annular member formed of a strip of flexible corrugated material joined end to end with the corrugations disposed inwardly, a series of circumferentially disposed staples projecting from the inner surface of said amlular member, a rigid circular disc hingedly connected to the annular member and movable therein into abutting engagement with the inwardly projecting staples to form an end wall in the annular member, the inner diameter of said annular member being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the body whereby the annular member may be telescopically mounted on the body with the respective corrugations in frictional engagement to provide a cover for the container.

9. A collapsible fibrous container comprising a tubular collapsible body having one end thereof folded inwardly to provide a shoulder, a rigid circular disc hingedly connected to said body for movement therein to a position in abutting engagement with said shoulder and peripheral frictional engagement with the inner surface of the body, to form a bottom closure for the container, a collapsible tubular member adapted to be inserted into said body, when said rigid disc has been moved into the aforementioned position, and to be expanded into frictional conforming engagement with the inner surface of the body to form a. reinforcing liner therefor, a collapsible annular member adapted to be telescopically mounted upon said body, a series of peripherally arranged staples projecting from the inner surface of said annular member to form a plurality of shoulders, and a rigid disc hingedly connected to said annular member and movable therein into abutting engagement with said shoulders, to provide a wall in said member functioning as a top closure for the container when the annular member is telescopically assembled with said body.

HENRY E. BRALOFF. 

